Coach -
There’s clinic talk, and then there’s the things that really happen. One thing you can guarantee in watching a clinic with Kyle Flood is that what he shares is exactly what will be practiced and performed on game day and will show-up on film.
He presented on the Outside Zone in Lauren’s First and Goal Clinic this past off season.
Coach Flood, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the University of Texas, is widely recognized for his effective teaching and strategy when it comes to zone blocking, particularly the outside zone scheme. His approach emphasizes simplicity and execution fundamentals, focusing on proper alignment, leverage, and efficient footwork for his offensive linemen.
Here are the key coaching points Coach Flood highlights for running the outside zone:
1. Aiming Point for the Running Back
- Tight End Surface: When running the outside zone towards the tight end, Flood instructs that the aiming point for the running back is the outside leg of the tight end. This clear landmark helps the running back establish the correct path and cutback options.
- Open Side (Weak Side): On the open side (without a tight end), the aiming point shifts to the outside leg of the tackle. Flood stresses simplicity in teaching these aiming points for better execution, avoiding complex "ghost tight end" aiming points, which he finds less effective.
2. Running Back Mechanics
- Flood emphasizes two steps past the mesh before aiming at the outside leg of the playside tackle. This ensures the running back sets up the play properly and hits the correct landmark, a technique he picked up from the coaching staff at West Virginia during the Rich Rodriguez era.
3. Mike Point Rules
- The Mike point determines blocking assignments, particularly for the center.
- Weak Side: The center is responsible for Mike-’ing the first linebacker on the playside.
- Strong Side: When running towards a tight end, the tackle and tight end handle the first linebacker, allowing the center to take the second linebacker (the Mike).
- These rules provide structure for linemen to understand their responsibilities without overcomplicating assignments.
Coach Flood talks about the Mike Point in this video:
4. Reach Blocks and Vertical Pressing
- Coach Flood explains that a successful outside zone relies on effective reach blocks, which he categorizes into two types:
- On the Body: When the defender is aligned on the offensive lineman's body, the target is the playside number of the defender. The key is placing the lineman’s face on the playside number, driving with the backside knee, and ensuring proper hand placement (backside hand low and playside hand high).
- Off the Body: If the defender is aligned off the lineman’s body (wider), the lineman should aim to hit the defender down the middle with the face outside, maintaining leverage to prevent the defender from slipping inside.
- A central aspect of Flood’s philosophy is the vertical press, where once the target is captured, linemen must work to press vertically rather than laterally, emphasizing forward movement to win the line of scrimmage.
5. Shuffle Reach Technique
- For linemen facing wide-aligned defenders (e.g., defensive ends trying to contain the edge), Flood advocates a three-step shuffle reach technique. This controlled shuffle allows the lineman to maintain leverage and prevent the defender from slipping inside, which is important against agile "jump-around" defensive ends. The shuffle helps linemen remain balanced and connected to the block.
6. Cut-off Blocks
- On the backside of the play, linemen must execute cut-off blocks to prevent penetration from defenders aligned in the gaps (e.g., B-gap defenders).
- Tight Cut-off: When the defender is aligned close, the target is the inside number of the defender. Linemen must use their face and hands to drive through the defender, ensuring proper pad level and knee drive.
- Loose Cut-off: Against wider-aligned defenders, Flood teaches a shuffle cut-off technique where linemen shuffle their first two steps, then open their hips on the third step to get their hips and helmet in front of the defender, cutting them off from the backside.
7. Finishing the Block
- Coach Flood emphasizes the importance of finishing blocks to create bigger plays. He uses a drill called fit and reach, where linemen work on finishing their blocks by keeping their backside knee driving through the defender and ensuring their helmet placement is on the playside number. This helps sustain blocks longer, turning six-yard runs into potential twelve-yard gains.
8. Pad Level and Hands
- Proper pad level is critical to winning blocks, regardless of height. Flood stresses getting the face mask on the correct target to ensure proper leverage. He also teaches linemen to let go of their playside hand if it starts to pull them off their block, as this can disrupt proper body positioning.
Kyle Flood’s approach to the outside zone is based on simple, repeatable principles that allow offensive linemen to perform their tasks efficiently and effectively. By emphasizing clear aiming points, vertical pressing, controlled footwork, and pad level, Coach Flood ensures his offensive line can execute one of the most demanding yet rewarding (in yards gained) plays in football - the outside zone. His teachings highlight the importance of technique and detail in the trenches, setting the foundation for explosive plays in the run game.
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski
P.S. Five of Coach Flood’s clinic presenations are available here for $39 (67% off):
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